Self-closing paste tube



Oct. 16, 1934. AJBERENDV'I'H I 1,977,227

SELF CLOSING PASTE TUBE Filed Aug. 9, 1953 INVENTOR. H Berenaf.

BYg-im ATTORNEY 7 Patented Oct. 16,1934

UNITED. STATES PATENT oer-ice 1,917.22: saur-cnosmc PASTE 'rnnn Alfred mean an. Application August 9, 193:, Serial No. 684,382

4 Claims. (01. 221-60) tube ready before it can be used, the paste outlet automatically closing immediately upon removal of the squeezing pressure upon the tube.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a tube with a mouth having flexible 'jaws or walls which are normally retained in clmed position and which upon the application of pressure to the tube separate to permit the egress of paste from the tube, the mouth closing and stopping the flow of paste automatically upon removal of the pressure upon the tube.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a unitary paste tube cap of the type above-described which may be mounted upon the end of the common type of paste tube after the ordinary cap of the latter has been removed.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of the tube.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the head of the tube with the rubber coating removed.

Figure 4 is a detailed view illustrating the separate jaw members forming the head.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 represents the body of the paste tube. The head of the tube comprises a plurality of separate jaw sections; in the example shown four such sections 11 are used. Each of these sections simulates a quarter section of the surface of a cone so assembled together that normally a. tapering slit 15 separates each section from the one adjacent. A flange 12 is formed at the lower edge of each section 11, so that when assembled a continuous flange encircles the base of the 'assembled'sections. At their 'upper ends, each of these sections is provided with a cut-out tip leaving an edge 13 on each, these edges being so provided that a rectangular opening 14 is left at and molten rubber is poured over them and the apex of the assembled cone.

The assembled sections 11 are placed in a mold with the opening 14 are filled with the rubber,

the thickness of the rubber at the edges of the mouth 14 being greater than that covering the remainder ofthe' cone. With the cone so covered with rubber, a slit 17 is cut into the rubber through the opening 14, the thicker mass of rubber surrounding the opening then forming lips 18.

The head as now completed is mounted in the tube by first inserting the flanges 12 in an internal peripheral slot 19 contained in a ring 20. This ring may be of the same soft material as the body of the tube, and the slot 19 may be formed therein by simply pressing the mass of material about the flanges 12. An external pe- 7 'ripheral slot 21 is likewise formed in the ring 20, in which the walls of the body 10 are secured to the head. The ring 20 tapers upwardly toward its opening, as shown in Figure 5, to

provide a check 22against the outward or ex- 7 siliency of. the rubber coating and by the resiliency of the sections 11. When pressure is applied to the tube, the various sections 11 will be forced slightly apart against the restraining force of the rubber coating, and the mouth 1'1 will be forced open, permitting a ribbon of paste to emerge. when the pressure on the tube ceases, boththe rubber coating 16 and the resiliency of the sections 11, will cause the mouth to close tightly. It is thus obvious .that a tight closing of the tube is provided at alltimes that it is not being used, and the paste may be forced therefrom without the necessity tofir'st remove a cap, as is the common practice.

The particular form of the .ribbon of paste de sired may be varied by varying the shape of 5 the opening 14 and the lips 18; for instance, the mouth may be made circular or square.

Obviously other modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a paste tube, a head comprising a plurality of complementary sections enclosing a mouth therebetween, said sections being resilient and adapted to move axially outward to widen said mouth, a coating of rubber surrounding said sections and binding them together into a single unit, said coating being thicker around said mouth to provide lips thereon.

2.11;. a paste tube, a conical head comprising a plurality of complementary conical sections,

said sections having flanges imbedded in said tube, said sections contacting with each other at their bases and being separated trom each other above the bases by tapering slits, the upper ends of said sections being-cut out to provide a mouth therebetween. a coating of rubber tions, a coating of rubber surrounding said sec-' tions and binding them together to form a single unit, an annular ring secured to the body of the tube, said ring having an upwardly-tapering opening surrounding said conical head and serving as a limit stop to the outward movement of said sections.

4. In a paste tube, a head comprising a plurality of complementary sections enclosing a mouth therebetween, said sections being resilient and adapted to move axially outward to widen said mouth, and a coating of rubber surrounding said sections and binding them together in a single unit.

ALFRED BERENDT. 

